Chapter 6) Foreseer

War has officially been declared. Once again, the continent will be split. This time, though, it's even worse, as we've dragged Ferox into the mess. For the first time in a thousand years, the entire continent of Ylisse will be at war, and all because of one man's vendetta against Plegia, and Grima.

How did I go from traveling mercenary on the run to in the middle of one of the biggest conflicts in recent history?

The castle was in an uproar when we returned. The entire city, actually, was in a panic. Everyone knew. Everyone knew that we were going to war with Plegia once more. Which meant that as soon as we stepped inside the castle, Emmeryn and Chrom were being screamed at.

"How could you do this, your grace?!" "Your highness, how could you be so reckless?!" "Don't you know what this will do to the country?!" "How could you?!" Their shouts mushed together, and you could only get the idea of outrage, fear, and the desperate attempt to blame someone for the mess.

Frederick tried to push the rest of us Shepherds out of the way, as Emmeryn and Chrom dealt with the nobles. He even pushed away Lissa, who looked so tired, so resigned, and so aggravated. I gathered this was fairly typical. The sheltered princess, protected from everything. I wasn't sure if that was such a good idea. Being sheltered had caused my brother and I a lot of grief. It had cost others their lives.

Frederick nudged me, but I glanced back to where Emmeryn and Chrom were still being yelled at. Then, I snatched Lissa's hand, making her yelp, and I stormed right over to the group of nobles with her, ignoring Frederick entirely.

"Will you all shut the hell up?" I drawled, giving them my best exasperated look. The nobles reeled back, from the shock that someone like me would dare speak to them. "Stop trying to push the blame on a single person. This whole mess is your fault too. Or do you think the Plegians didn't notice the steadily rising tariffs some of you imposed on your goods?" I nudged Lissa towards her siblings and crossed my arms, meeting their outraged looks with ease. Far more ease than I should. I was bluffing. "I understand that Ylisse law lets you do that, so long as the increase is under a set percentage per year." Now that I did know, because some mercenaries I traveled with commented on how 'hands-off' Ylisse was with its nobles. This was why I was even doing this damn bluff in the first place. "But little things add up, and you have been reaping those benefits. Plegia notices."

"How dare you?" one hissed. A very portly looking man, whose shirt alone probably cost enough to buy a village food for a damn year. Indigo was a very expensive dye. "Who do you think you are, you-?"

"Insult her, and you insult me," Chrom instantly growled. He stepped around Emmeryn to stand in front of me protectively. The portly noble actually took a step back. "This is Kestrel, one of my Shepherds, and a dear friend."

"I'm also a traveler, so I actually know something about the world," I added. I felt strangely vindicated, for some reason. "Unlike you lot, you really like keeping to yourselves, and forcing Emmeryn to play the same games of manipulation and pretty poison words. Besides, were you so self absorbed that you didn't even hear of how the thing happened?" I hesitated only briefly before smiling at Lissa. Her eyes were wide, nervous, but sparkling with determination. She realized what I was doing, and loved it. "I'm sure Lissa can explain better than me."

"Well, I can certainly explain!" Lissa chirped. She put on her best smile as she looked at the gathered nobles, clasping her hands behind her back to hide how they shook. "This all happened because a village was attacked, and Maribelle went to help. Then she was captured, and used as a hostage!" Her voice shook, and she ducked her head. "Then there was some negotiations, only King Gangrel didn't want to negotiate. He wanted just to mock us. And maybe we made mistakes, but we are trying, you know?" She glanced up tentatively, and I smiled at how the other nobles squirmed. It was much easier to be mad at Emmeryn or Chrom; Emmeryn was calm, and Chrom had a temper. But Lissa was a sweetheart, and it was hard to be mad at someone who reminded you of a kitten. "They attacked first. Chrom might have said some… aggressive words, but it's only because they tried to kill Emmeryn and Kestrel! And then we got hit by a whole army!"

"He's had his army mobilized," Chrom whispered. He relaxed only slightly. "He went there ready for war. Unfortunately, we gave him the openings he needed. But now, we really need to plan for war. We don't have an army. I'll be heading to Ferox within the next few days to gain theirs. But we have work to do here."

"We must also calm the people," Emmeryn added. She smiled kindly at the nobles. "Please. They will be the ones suffering most from this. It is our duty to protect them, and we must do all we can." She shook her head and gestured to the hall. "Come, though. I will hear your complaints, providing you actually take turns so that I can understand." She easily led them down the hall, quite clearly in command once more.

As soon as they disappeared, Lissa buckled and I barely caught her before she fell. "Holy wow, that was something," Lissa laughed, the nervous sort of laughter of someone who didn't believe they pulled something off. "Ugh, I thought I was used to talking to people."

"You're probably not used to calming a crowd, though," I pointed out. I gave Chrom an exasperated look. "Although I don't know why. You've a sweeter face than those two."

"B-but Emm's pretty!"

"But she doesn't look all cute and innocent, and make you feel like you've kicked a kitten when you make her frown." I prodded Lissa's cheek for emphasis, and laughed as she squeaked. "Emmeryn is serene, and Chrom has a temper. They're easier to be mad at."

"I suppose?" Lissa looked confused, but then smiled brightly. "I helped~!"

"That you did," Chrom murmured. He smiled softly at her, and reached over to ruffled her pigtails, making her squeak. "I guess fifteen is old enough to be dragged into such things."

"I am a little tired of being shown the door," Lissa grumbled. She pouted up at him. "You've been helping Emm since you were like… ten! But whenever I try, you're both just like 'oh, you just need to smile!'."

"Well, it's true. You smile, and both of us feel like we're succeeding in what we do." Chrom grinned as she squirmed. "I just don't tell you because you normally try to hit me when I do."

"It's embarrassing!" She huffed before giggling. "Oh, whatever. I'm going to go to Maribelle. She's meeting her dad here." Lissa skipped off, humming to herself.

I laughed as I watched her leave, before glancing at Chrom. "I speak from experience when I saw sheltering proves detrimental," I explained. I felt I needed to. "So, I thought I'd drag her over. I was rather mad at them anyway."

"I wondered," Chrom whispered. Still, he smiled. "So, tariffs? Is that something I need to look into?"

"Maybe. I'd said it as a bluff, but they squirmed at it, so maybe I hit something there. Especially indigo fellow. He's clearly rolling in money."

"How can you tell by a look?"

"Indigo. Shirt. That shit is expensive." I nudged his side and pointed to his clothes. "So is blue. And a stark white cape."

"Okay, okay." He sighed. "Well, that's another thing on my list."

"Might I assist?"

"Don't you want to rest?"

"Don't you?" I smiled as he sighed again. "Come on. We'll drag Robin into it. I'm sure he's still up."

"Fine, I give." He even threw up his hands, and I laughed. "This way to the archives, then."

The three of us researched things in the archives for a good long while. I focused more on the tariffs, since I'd been the one to bring them up. Robin focused more on tactics Plegia had used in the previous war, and on the tactics favored by the Ylisseans and Feroxi. Chrom flipped through what supplies Ylisse had for a war effort, and making calculations of what all we'd need.

Some time after our third set of candles burned down to awkward piles of wax and wicks, Emmeryn and Frederick came in to chase us out. I tried to ignore them, but Frederick stole my notes from me to continue them himself. I tried to protest, but Emmeryn actually snagged me for tea in her room. Chrom and Robin, giving up on protesting, headed out to the courtyard for fresh air, and likely some heart to heart conversation.

"I do not think I've thanked you properly for all that you've done for us, Kestrel," Emmeryn murmured as she poured the tea, some sort of citrus blend based on the smell. "Duke Themis is hoping also to thank you personally for coming to Maribelle's rescue."

"I really don't need the thanks," I mumbled, feeling a bit awkward. I glanced around the room to try and hide it, though, and I noticed how… bare the room was. This was Emmeryn's personal room, yet there was next to nothing. A little table where we sat. A bed. Some simple lace curtains fluttering in the breeze, since the windows were open for fresh air. A couple of framed pictures. A book on the single pillow on the bed. A couple of flowers on the windowsill, in simple clear vases. That was it. "No dolls?"

"All my dolls went to Lissa. We didn't really have enough to justify buying new ones for her when she was born, since everyone was hurting. So, Chrom and I gave Lissa our toys instead." She sat back down and smiled sweetly at me. "I suppose I just never had time to really pick up trinkets. I have a separate room for jewelry, though."

"No presents from Chrom and Lissa?"

"I'm reading Chrom's latest present." She pointed to the book and laughed again. "The Exalt is expected to make a show. I like being surrounded by simple things. Chrom makes sure to get me simple things. Lissa likes bringing me flowers." She pointed to the flowers on the windowsill. "There's also the more extravagant things, but those are away from my personal chambers, like I said. Except for the tea." She made a little face. "I simply cannot stand bad tea. I can handle bad anything else, but not that."

"You've had to handle 'bad' anything?" I smiled slightly, noticing how relaxed she was. It was like 'The Exalt' had been left outside the room, and so, I spoke only to Emmeryn, 'The Girl'. The girl she might've been if she'd had an actual childhood. "I'm surprised."

"We have festivals, where Chrom and I serve as the 'final judges' for competitions. Pies, songs, poems…" She made another face and I burst into laughter, barely able to imagine it. "It is quite amazing how many ways you can butcher a pie."

"Chrom literally knocked Vaike out with whatever he made, so he has no right to complain." I relaxed slightly as she giggled. "So, did you bring me in to gossip or did you want to ask me something?"

"I did have one question." Her cheer faded slightly, but her eyes held only curiosity. "You were adamant in that we not give in to King Gangrel's demands. Why is that?"

"If he put on a show for the thing, clearly you need to not give in to him." My voice was drier than I wanted, but she simply sipped her tea, and waited. "If he wanted it that badly, it's likely something the Grimleal wanted. Which wouldn't be good."

"Why? What could they do with it?"

"..." I fiddled with my teacup, my stomach rolling. But I did need to… warn her… "Your father…" My voice rasped, and my hands began to shake. I set the teacup down and clasped my hands to hide it. "He either had a good reason to launch his assault, or got damn lucky."

"He… what?" Emmeryn looked genuinely startled. "What do you mean?"

"I…" My mouth was dry, and my voice was raspy. I wanted to stop. I didn't want to remember. I didn't want to reveal my past, especially to an Ylissean. But I… I needed to trust 'someone' with this knowledge. I couldn't be the only one to know. "The Grimleal… well, he shouldn't have turned it all on Plegia. He was wrong on that. All Plegians are technically part of the religion, but most of them just think it's… lip service. Plegia is a theocracy, and all, and someone has to pay tribute to destruction." Though, given the Grimleal and their curses, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if there was a little bit of mental manipulation there. "There's a strong belief of 'fate' and 'destiny' in Plegia as well, so many think that it's actually Naga in the wrong, for going against destiny. For changing fate. And there's more complicated things too. I mean; Plegia is a country full of people. People are complicated."

"Yes, they are. Though, I hadn't known Plegians had such a strong belief in fate."

"How strong depends on the region, and even whether one is 'noble' or in the slums. Which, I mean, you see in most countries. The well-off go 'this is the will of the gods and you are horrible to try to change it'. Why would they want to change it? They benefit from how things are."

"I suppose." She gave me a calm look. Not pressing, but with a distinct air of how she knew I was stalling.

I squirmed a bit before continuing. "What most people don't know is… that the Grimleal, the higher ranked members, those of the Inner Circle… they are actually planning on bringing Grima back."

"...Would he not come back normally?" Emmeryn looked confused then. "The stories all say that Naga told the First Exalt to ensure the Falchion and Fire Emblem remained safe, as darkness would come once more."

"No offence, but if we go look at history, that's not some great prophecy. That's just logic. You had Medeus thrice, back when this continent was known as Archanea. Then you had Grima, who just popped out of freaking nowhere." No one had any idea. Just one day, a gigantic flying dragon, larger than a castle, emerged from Dragon's Table and began annihilating everything. Some thought he was born from the Earth Dragons, sealed beneath the Table, but no one knew. "But even Medeus didn't come back alone, Emmeryn. He came back through someone's use of dark magic."

"That… is true." She hummed a little in thought. "I suppose our ancestors simply… misinterpreted. The world is a cycle of light and dark."

"Or she saw the future. Who knows? Point is, Grimleal? Trying to bring back Grima. Resurrect him. Meaning that… even though he went way overboard, and even though he targeted the wrong people… your father did have cause for attacking." I paused, thinking. "Though, overboard. Killed a bunch of people who had no clue. Nearly destroyed his own country in his well-intentioned madness. And, you know, he might've just gotten lucky with his bigotry."

"He still left quite a mess for me, and for Chrom." Emmeryn fell silent, sipping her tea. I tried to mirror her movements, but my hands were still shaking, and the tea was cold. It felt like a lump of ice, and I tasted nothing but my nerves. "If this is such a secret, then…"

"How do I know?" My voice shook again. "It's… simple. I was… I was born into it. The Inner Circle. My parents were… high ranked members of the Grimleal." My father was the Hierophant, the leader, inherited from his own father as a failed Vessel. Mom had been the High Priestess of Shadows, the second highest rank among the Grimleal, a rank she had earned through her skill, cunning, and power. That was why the two had been wed, and the Grimleal had looked to Mom as their salvation when she gave birth to two Vessel, the elder of which was a 'perfect' Vessel. Then she'd run, taking us with her. "So, I… was raised among them, until our father tried to…" Tried to 'start' the Awakening, and it failed, but it cursed Robin with white hair and a frail disposition. They had been missing something. I wondered now if the Fire Emblem had been that 'something'. "Sacrifice us. To Grima."

"Sacrifice?!" She looked so alarmed that I burst into laughter. "I… I fail to see how that's funny!"

"I've spent most of my damn life knowing that I was born to be a sacrifice, Emmeryn. I was literally born to serve Grima." To be a Vessel. To be broken into his right hand general while he used Robin's body as his own. "The only person who protested was Mom. She took us and ran, using the war as cover. She ran and ran, fought and fought." But she had sheltered us too much, and so, when she had died, Robin and I had known next to nothing. "It's a disbelieving laugh. I'm surprised someone else cares."

"That's…" She shook her head. "Why? Why would he…?"

"I…" I hesitated a bit more. I was so scared. But I… I had to trust, right? I had to. Being the only one to bear this knowledge… someone else had to. I didn't know how to bear it all alone. "...Naga…" My voice shook so much. "Naga isn't… the only one with… a bloodline…"

"A bloodline? What would that…?" Her eyes widened, and her hand came up to touch the Mark on her forehead. "Grima has a… and you and Robin…?"

"...Yeah…" I ducked my head, tense enough to shake. I was terrified. Was she going to scream? Was she going to condemn me? Was she going to throw me to the wolves? Probably not, she was peaceful. Would she tell me to leave, though? I wasn't sure I wanted to.

There was the sound of movement and, to my utter shock, I soon felt her wrap her arms around me in a very, very warm hug. "Oh, Kestrel…" She kissed the top of my head, and I was so reminded of Mom that I felt a near overwhelming urge to cry. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry you had to deal with all of this."

"...You're not…"

"Of course not. You're a wonderful person. A wonderful and kind person who has done so much for us. If anything, you are simply proof that just because someone is of the dark, they do not have to be evil. Darkness is not inherently bad, nor is light inherently good. We need only look to my own father for proof of the latter, even if there was some justification to his madness." She tightened her hug and, hesitantly, I leaned into her, closing my eyes. "You will always have a home here, Kestrel. Never doubt that."

"Even if people come after Robin and me?"

"You think Chrom and the rest of the Shepherds will let anyone hurt you?" She pulled away and crouched down slightly, wiping my face with her sleeve. There weren't tears, but I knew the motion was more symbolic anyway. She was 'wiping away' all the tears I'd shed in the past. "Truthfully, I'm not sure they'll just let you leave either. They love you and Robin."

"Everyone's weird."

"Weird is good, though." She smiled warmly. "It's weirdness that pushes for change."

"What about brokenness?"

"They're the ones who know what needs to be changed, to make the world a little better." She laughed a bit. "Which is what we need to do. We make the world a little better for those who come next. Each generation makes things better. Sometimes, we misstep and fall backwards, but we keep going."

"...I don't know if that's profound or naive." I still smiled back at her, though. "I like it."

"I'm glad. Phila tends to give a 'that's nice, your grace'." She made a little face, and I laughed. "Ah, but that's enough of serious talk. I'll warm the tea back up, and I did want to talk with you about the Ribald tales, and ask you a bit about Chrom."

"About Chrom?" That confused me, and for some reason, my voice went a little squeaky. She giggled in response. "H-hold on, why would-?"

Everything after that was a bit of a blur. I caught a shadow in the window, and immediately lunged to tackle Emmeryn. Just in time, as two arrows thudded into the knocked over table. Strangely, nothing shattered, maybe because of the rug I hadn't noticed, but the tea certainly created a very odd stain on said rug. I automatically reached for my sword, before realizing I didn't have it. I'd given it to Virion for maintenance.

A figure in a brown cloak and dark armor appeared on the windowsill, knocking over the vase. That one shattered, the water and glass shards glinting eerily in the moonlight, but the assassin didn't seem to notice. Whoever it was focused solely on Emmeryn, which told me a few things, mostly that this assassin's target was Emmeryn. Not me. And likely a fairly new one, since they didn't seem to think I was a threat.

So, I glanced around, noticed that they were still dramatically on the window, and then rushed them, shoving them out the window. They yelped, and flipped, catching the sill. I snagged a glass shard and stabbed their hand, though, and they fell with a little scream.

I tossed the shard after them, and leaned over the sill a bit, noticing that the courtyard below was swarming with people in dark armor. Then I rocked back on my heels, and turned to the very startled Emmeryn. "It seems Plegia sent assassins after you," I told her. "I wouldn't be surprised if they sent them after Chrom and Lissa as well. Nothing will destabilize Ylisse better than the royal family dying, and…"

"And my father did the same to Plegia's previous royal family," Emmeryn whispered. She gradually regained her calm. "Though, I suppose he missed one?"

"Gangrel is from the slums. He won the favor of the Grimleal, and they instated him as king. Your father was very thorough in killing of the Plegian Royal family. Perhaps he thought they were the ones in charge of the resurrection. Or he just wanted to wipe out the Plegians."

"Ah." She pushed herself up and brushed off the front of her skirt. "There's a suit of armor not far away from here. You can probably take the sword?"

"Sounds good." I already started for the door. "Let's find the others."

The entire place was chaos. The bodies of dead soldiers and servants littered the halls. We found Frederick fairly quickly, though, and Phila. Phila was quickly sent to take care of the ones outside, while Frederick joined me in trying to find a defensible room for Emmeryn and trying to find the others. We seemed to just find more assassins, though, and my borrowed sword was soon dripping with blood. I was incredibly, incredibly jumped.

So, that was why I nearly decapitated Chrom. In my defense, though, he nearly did the same with me. We stared at each other for a long moment, our swords at each others' neck, not quite comprehending who we were looking at, only that there wasn't any danger. For now.

"Hey, she's pretty, but now isn't the time to have a moment." The voice was light, feminine, and a little sarcastic, and someone stepped up, someone with long blue hair and matching eyes. "My pardon, my lady," she continued, focusing on me. She pulled her hair in front of her left eye, and I noticed it was a slightly lighter shade of blue. Some regions had a prejudice against heterochromia, believing that they were children possessed by demons. I guessed she'd dealt with that. "Things have been rather hectic."

"Clearly," I replied, my voice just as sarcastic. I brought my sword back down my side and focused on her. We were about the same height, I noticed absently, but my eyes focused more on the diadem she wore. That, and the clothes, told me who this was easily. "Well, Marth, it seems you pulled the same trick I used to."

"Trick?"

"Pretending to be male. Though, how did you tuck your hair up?" It was quite long, mid-back. Though, there was something else that bothered me. "Oh, wait, your diadem is messed up." Automatically, I reached up to fix it, and Marth just simply stared at me. "...Sorry. It's been an intense few hours."

"N-no, it's fine!" She squeaked and ducked her head. "My hair is layered. So, a friend helped me tuck and pin the longer strands."

"Oh, and then a sudden movement dislodged them? Probably the same one that removed your mask?" I moved behind her and caught some of the pins still dangling in her hair. I picked them out, and she squirmed. "...I really should ask first."

"No, it's fine!" Her ears were red. "B-but… um… assassins?"

"Right." I looked up, and noticed Chrom and Emmeryn were hugging, while Frederick and Robin whispered. "What's the plan, boys? I'm glad you're not dead, by the way, Robin."

"Glad to be acknowledged!" Robin laughed. His eyes danced, letting me know the words were teasing. "Frederick says there's a good room this way. It has a window, so we'll need two guards, but it's the best option from here."

"Good to hear," I replied. I fluffed Marth's hair a bit, to make sure there were no more pins. "Has anyone found Lissa?"

"Not yet, but I'm not as worried. The least skilled were probably sent at her, and she was last seen in the barracks with the rest of the Shepherds." Robin's smile faltered. "But I would like to get that confirmed. But first, that room."

We moved quickly and easily. Marth kept close to me, for some strange reason, and a couple of times, I almost thought I felt her reach for my hand. But each time, she pulled away, and there really wasn't a chance to ask her about it. Especially once we got into the room.

"Is this really the best room?" I whispered, wincing as the sounds of battle echoed in. We were in a corner room, and not that far from the battle. "Well, it's easily defensible, I suppose." I still wasn't comfortable, especially since it had already been determined that Marth and me were guarding Emmeryn here.

"That it is," Chrom agreed. He glanced around slowly, sighing a little. "Emm's trying to convince Frederick to take us and run."

"...No offense to her, but she's met Frederick, right?" I smiled slightly as he snickered. "Though, knowing Frederick as I do, which is admittedly not much…" I gestured around the room. "Is this really the best spot?"

"It is, given one little thing." Chrom moved a little closer, and pulled me towards the corner of the room. "There's a hidden door here." He gestured to where it was before pointing to a little candlestick not far from it. "Pull that down, and the door will open. It leads all the way outside the palace. If you get overrun, take Emm and Marth and run. Regroup with Phila outside."

"So that's the main reason." I bit my lip, thinking quickly. "How many people know of this?"

"Very few, and most of those who know were told in the last days of my father's reign." He smiled a little. "You're actually the first person I've told."

"I can't decide if I'm flattered by that trust, or if I want to bat at you for telling me, instead of waiting for Emmeryn to show me."

"It's just us, here." His smile widened slightly and he stepped back, looking at Frederick and Robin. "So, have you two finished with the pointless arguing yet? I'd like to see who else is fighting. I'm hoping it's my Shepherds."

"They're done," Robin answered for them. He emphasized it by grabbing Frederick's arm and pulling him towards the door. "We'll see you three later!" The three left quickly, likely to avoid Emmeryn sulking at them.

She sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Oh, goodness, why don't they listen?" she murmured, clasping her hands. "My life is not worth theirs…"

"That's not for you to decide," I replied. She gave me a curious look. "A person determines their self-worth, but whether or not they are 'worth' hell? That's not for them to decide. That's for the people around them. It's a testament to how much they love and respect you." I smiled slightly. "Well, I don't have a right to talk. I get in little arguments with Chrom over how he's too kind to me." We fell silent then, mostly because we had no idea how to keep the conversation going. Especially since the sounds of battle quickly became even fiercer. Yet here we were, stuck in this room, unable to join.

I hunted around, looking for something to comment on, and I noticed Marth was fiddling with something. I studied it a moment before I realized that I knew her necklace. I wore one like it, the 'traveler's protection' charm from the Feroxi girl.

"I see you got one too," I whispered to her. I pointed to her necklace when she gave me a confused look. "It's a charm for safe travels, right? Did a little girl give it to you? I got mine from her; her mother made beautiful necklaces in the market."

"Oh, no, I…" Marth hesitated before continuing. "My mother… gave it to me. Before she died."

"...I'm sorry for bringing it up."

"No, no, I don't mind." She smiled, and the smile was warm, if pained. "I love my mother. I don't mind remembering her. If I could only have half as much strength as she…"

"Try not to put your mom on a pedestal so much." I smiled wryly, thinking of my own. "She was human. You are too. Besides, the best way to get damage on a person is through momentum."

"Momentum?"

"Yeah, like what Chrom did to flip you. That's my trick. You block and twist them off balance, and then let their momentum cause the damage needed to take them out." I shrugged. "I block and counter frequently too, but really, if you manage to get enough speed and momentum on a strike, forget strength."

"...Oh." She smiled shyly. "My mother… mentioned she used a foe's weight against them."

"Smaller people tend to do that. Lower center of gravity and all. More stable." I glanced back at Emmeryn, who listened with rapt attention. "You want to learn, Emmeryn?"

"I… well…" Emmeryn began. She sighed, though, and shook her head. "I'd… better not. I even gave up my mage training to learn how to be a cleric to show how determined I was to atone for my father."

"It's still good to know how to defend yourself," I pointed out. Still, I smiled and shrugged. "Then again, you're devoted to pacifism. It's hardest when people are trying to kill you."

"Yes, but I… I do believe in it. So, I must serve as an example." She laughed, but it was surprisingly bitter. "Perhaps I am a poor ruler. I went from one extreme to the other, but a ruler should be more… flexible. For the sake of the people." Her eyes were sad, but resolute. "But, I'll stick with this course. I do not think it is a wrong one."

"...That went way more philosophical than I expected." I grinned and she smiled sheepishly. "Relax, Emmeryn. You can have an existential crisis later, when everyone is fine."

A small commotion caught our attention then, and Marth and I peeked out the door to see that there was a woman wearing unusual purple armor and patches of fur in random places speaking to Chrom. Her eyes were harsh and cold, and I noticed her twin braids were two colors, with a noticeably pale streak strangely going straight through, like the braids were actually wrapped around something.

"Oh, Panne…" Marth breathed. She looked conflicted. "Damn, she's earlier than I thought she'd be."

"You knew she was coming?" I asked, giving her a skeptical look. "Really?"

"Yes?" She hesitated a bit. "I… know the future?"

"Oh, Foresight. I'm told it's quite the 'gift'." I shrugged, sighing, and Marth gave me a startled look. "It's a lesser known magic, but one nonetheless. Go on and reassure Chrom. Don't worry. He'll believe you."

"...Okay." She gave me a smile, far brighter than I would've thought, and scampered over to where this 'Panne' and Chrom were.

The sound of stone grinding on stone caught my ear, and I turned, frowning. Emmeryn also looked confused, and then turned her attention to the hidden door in the corner. Only the door was hidden. It was opening.

I took a step forward, intending on grabbing Emmeryn and running, but then I froze as the door fully and I saw just who was there. I… knew him. I knew the robes he wore, the Ceremonial Robes, worn when delivering a sacrifice to Grima. I knew the headpiece he wore, the 'crown' of the Hierophant. He had white in his beard now. He had grey hair at his temples. There were some lines in his harsh, smirking face.

"Well, well… aren't I lucky today?" he whispered. His eyes flicked over to me, and the smirk grew. "Aversa told me that you were here, my little fledgling." He brought up his hand as I still tried to process what was going on, and I felt a sensation of icicles sinking into my head, my mind, and holding me in place. "Stay. Still."

Mental manipulation. It was a curse taught only to two people among the Grimleal: the Hierophant and the High Priestess. It was Grima's greatest 'gift' to his bloodline. Technically, Robin and I could do it, but we didn't know how. Mom had never taught us, and I was glad for it, even if it might've made some things easier.

But the curse was a strong one, and my father was a particularly skilled practitioner, since he'd been so close as a Vessel. I was of his blood, meaning he didn't even need to say a word to use it on me. He simply had to call on that shared blood and let it be the catalyst instead.

"Let her be." Emmeryn's voice cracked through the air, and I'd never heard her speak so coldly before. "You may do what you wish with me, but leave her alone," she whispered, giving Validar a calm look that had all the fire and fierceness of a glare. "If you wish to kill me, then get on with it."

"Oh, I do, but if that was all that I wanted, I would've sent someone else," my father replied. He chuckled and the sound made my skin crawl. "I wanted to retrieve my escaped fledgling."

Fledgling, fledgling. It had always been his name for me. Mom had named Robin and me, but he had been the one to nickname us. I had been 'his little fledgling', the one he'd praised with great enthusiasm. 'His little fledgling', who he'd sneak out of lessons and out of the temple, the Table, to show the sun and the sparkling sands of the Plegian desert. 'His little fledgling', who he'd hold and whisper stories long after Mom had decreed it was time for bed. 'His little fledgling', who he'd help set up little pranks on the others and laugh at their squeaks and squawks. 'His little fledgling', who he'd hold up high and show the stars. 'His little fledgling', who he happily declared would be one to 'usher a new age upon the world!'.

'His little fledgling', who stupidly thought he loved her, and not who she was 'destined' to become.

"Kestrel is her own self." Emmeryn's words were still quiet yet fierce. "Not yours."

"Yes, she is mine." My father's words were haughty, mocking. I hated it. I hated him. "She is mine. Mine by blood."

"If I…" I hissed, anger flooding me. All those times, all the pain… "Oh, if only I could rip your blood out of my veins!" That anger gave me courage, and the strength to push through his curse. "My life would've been so much easier if I didn't have your cursed blood!"

"Hush, fledgling," my father replied, pressing the curse deeper into my head. Trying to make me pliant. But it wouldn't work. The resistance, the life, the stamina that made me an 'imperfect' Vessel meant I could resist him too! "Let me finish here, and then we'll go home."

"In case you haven't notice, bastard, I'm not a fledgling anymore!" I lunged forward, pushing all the strength I could into my legs to get momentum. I crashed into my father, and we crashed through the cracked window with a far too loud shatter. Shards dug into my skin and down, down, down we fell, towards the courtyard below with Emmeryn's terrified scream echoing somewhere behind us.

As I fell, I thought of Robin. I thought of Chrom. I thought of Sumia and Lissa and Virion. Frederick, Sully, Stahl. Miriel, Lon'qu, Vaike. Maribelle, Ricken. I thought of all of them, and I realized, just before I hit, that despite making a suicide pact, despite planning this moment to happen for years, I… I didn't actually want to die. I didn't want to die.

I hit the ground hard, and white hot pain screamed up my arm and leg. I gasped, tears pricking my eyes as I struggled to stand, or even just push myself up. It took a second for me to realize why I struggled since shock and pain made my brain hazy, but I'd broken my arm and a leg. I likely had at least cracked some ribs, and if I didn't have internal bleeding… well, if I didn't, it was because I was a vessel, and not quite human.

I maneuvered my unbroken arm under me, and I slowly, shakily, pushed myself to a sitting position, slipping in little pools of my own blood. I nearly gagged when I saw my leg, with bone jutting out in random spots; I decided against looking at my arm. Instead, I focused everything on breathing. It hurt, each breath like a dagger through my chest.

But raspy gasps reminded me that I hadn't been the only one who had fallen through the window, and I turned to see my father was also desperately trying to right himself. It looked like his arms were intact, but both of his legs had broken, and he slowly tried to drag himself towards something. It took me an instance to realize it was his tome, but not the Elfire tome he'd used before. It was the tome I most associated with him, the tome of the Hierophant. 'Grima's Truth', a dark magic tome crafted in the image of the legendary 'Book of Naga' and the infamous 'Loptyr' tome, from the Jugdrali tales. It was a tome said to channel the power of the Fell Dragon, and I could believe it. After all, my father was a failed vessel, but even that gave some benefits.

He reached out towards it, gasping and wincing. But the tome was closer to me, and so, even with his 'head start', I still reached it first. I snatched it from him and opened it up on my unwounded leg, vision graying as I stared at his wide-eyed, pain filled face. Then, I laughed. I laughed and laughed, and it was near hysterical, thin and wheezy. But it was a laugh, and it made his eyes widened even further.

"Well, this is fitting," I hissed, snarling at him. I ran my fingers over the pages, feeling them spark into life. This was probably a spell I could cast even without a tome, but it was still nice to have a catalyst. "Finally, I get to kill you."

"Kestrel… fledgling…" he rasped. He tried to push himself back. He tried to push himself up. But his arms shook too much. He could only lie there, and plead for his life. "Wait! This is… it has been written, and you must…!"

"I. Don't. Care." The magic flared into life, and whipped around me. In the dark shadows, I saw gleaming red eyes and heard an echoing chuckle rumble deep in my spirit. Grima. But I had resisted him as a child. I could resist him now. "I don't know what god listens to a Grimleal's prayers, but you might want to pick one." I held my hand out in front of me, and focused the spell. "They might grant you mercy, because I sure as hell won't!"

I launched the spell, and his screams of pain echoed throughout the courtyard. I held the magic on him, watched it tear into his body, until the screams ended. Then, hesitantly, I let the spell go and tossed the book to the side. It 'clanged' against something, and I turned to see my sword was actually near. A damn miracle it hadn't impaled me.

I scooted over to it and picked it up with my unbroken hand, smiling bitterly. I had hoped that I could kill him by the blade, a skill I had learned away from him, but I supposed that I had to take what I was given. Killing him with his own tome had a certain bit of… poetic justice, I supposed.

I stiffened, though, as I heard another low chuckle. I looked around wildly, completely numb to the pain and certainly on the edge of fainting. I found no source, and I focused on my father. His body was bloody, but perhaps… perhaps…

I slid forward and swung, stabbing his body. I thought I heard the laughter just… increase, and I kept on stabbing. Again, and again, and again. No resistance. Blood flying. No signs of life or breath, and yet, I swore I kept hearing laughter. So, I kept stabbing, desperately trying to stop the laughter, terrified that my father was still somehow alive, somehow haunting me, somehow still managing to make my life miserable.

Then something snagged my arm, and I nearly screamed. But then I heard, "Kestrel, it's me." Chrom's voice, calm and soothing. "It's just me. He's dead."

"C-chrom?" I whispered, my voice cracking. I blinked slowly up at him, not quite processing. "I'm hallucinating."

"That's the pain," he replied. He pried the sword out of my hand and picked me up by the waist, setting me gently on the edge of some sort of garden box. Away from the body. I could see only him as he peered at me worriedly. "There's a lot of-"

"Emmeryn." I thought of her scream. 'How is she?"

"She's just fine."

"Robin?"

"Just fine."

"You?"

"Just fine, as you can see."

"Lissa?"

"Just fine."

"Fred-"

"Kestrel." He gave me a fondly exasperated look. "Everyone is just fine. We're getting a count on the injured, and dead, but all the Shepherds are alive. Providing that we get you to a healer quickly." He glanced down at the ground, and I saw all the blood splattered against the stone. "You're badly injured."

"Yeah, I suppose…" My voice cracked, and I found myself crying. "I… I was scared… I was so scared…"

"...Yeah, I can imagine." He hesitated before leaning forward and wrapping a careful arm around me. "I was scared too. I was coming to tell Emm about Panne and Gaius, and I got there and… and… all I could do was watch as you fell, and you just… and you were the one who went through it."

"No, this is pathetic." I weakly batted at his shoulder with my unbroken hand. It was so hard to move. Everything felt so heavy. "This is your fault."

"That you went through the window?"

"That I was scared!" My voice cracked again, and some part of me thought I was being completely unreasonable. "I didn't used to be scared of dying! I didn't used to care! Now I do! It's your damn fault!"

"...Well, I'd apologize, but I rather like you being alive, so…" He pulled away slightly and smiled at me sheepishly. "I can't say I'm unhappy about you being scared of dying."

"It's your fault." I felt like a child, lashing about. "And why are you being so damn kind?"

"This argument again?"

"I just mutilated a corpse!"

"Well… yes…" He did look a bit uncomfortable and, conversely, that actually soothed me. He wasn't blindly giving kindness. He was choosing. "But Emmeryn mentioned he knew you? You knew him? It was a bit hard to understand. She mostly just pleaded that I go after you. Maribelle wasn't far behind me, she was yelling at me about Gaius for some reason, so I'm sure she'll be here soon." His hand ghosted over a couple of my bleeding gashes, and I shivered, despite how warm those spots actually felt. "Regardless, if you knew him, and he's Plegian… well, I can take a guess. Someone related to your father?"

"...That is my father." I leaned into his shoulder, still crying, and now, too tired to care. "I killed him. And then mutilated the corpse."

"Well, I think that can be forgiven, given what bits you've told me." He said the words lightly, so lightly that I knew, knew, this was him making a choice. This was him, choosing to believe in me, trust in me. I thought it horribly naive, but it was so him, that I couldn't help but smile anyway. "I mean; I've cracked my father's tombstone in anger."

"How the hell did you manage that?"

"Falchion." His hand came up and gently threaded through my hair. "Just hang on a bit longer, Kestrel. I can see Maribelle. She'll heal you."

"I'm not so easy to kill." I laughed bitterly. "If only…"

"I'm glad. I rather like you." There was an awkward pause at the end of that, and it made the sentence heavier than it should. "Don't pass out. Just stay right here."

"I'm clearly not going anywhere. I have a broken leg." I did close my eyes, though. It made the world spin a little less, and I could focus on his hand through my hair. It was nice. "Stop fretting. I'm alive, and that bastard is dead. Emmeryn is safe."

"For now."

"Well, yeah, it's a war, and there's clearly a traitor." I could think of no other reason for why they managed to get so deep into the castle so quickly. "I'm tired."

"Stay awake a little longer, please. They're almost here."

"Fine." I sighed heavily, and winced as the pain flooded me again. Pain meant I was still alive. I couldn't decide if I liked that or not. "Meanie."

"The kindest meanie?"

"Yeah, sure." I lifted myself up as I finally heard footsteps, and managed a smile for Maribelle as she raced up and began fussing over me. I managed to stay conscious long enough for them to set my bones, but that's when the pain took me and I blacked out.

And as I fainted, I swore I saw red eyes in the darkness, and thought that maybe, my nightmare wasn't over quite yet.

When I woke, I went to work, getting away with it because no healers happened to be around at the time. My bones creaked and popped with each movement, and my muscles were stiff, a lingering effect of healing broken bones. I could breath, though, and I could move. That was enough to move the wounded into the infirmary, and to move the dead out of the way.

Marth disappeared in all the chaos. Chrom apparently hired a thief named Gaius for a ridiculous price. Then there was the mysterious Panne, who I knew less than nothing about, but who also helped move the dead. Of course, she more flung them to the side, but she still took the heavier ones. I glowered at those who tried to complain. Not all cultured places any importance on a corpse. There were some regions where the body was considered only an empty husk. Besides, she treated the dead children gently. I thought that counted a lot more than an adult in heavy armor.

At some point during all of this, Panne went to go talk to Emmeryn. I'd ended up following, to make sure that no one tried to yell at her. To my surprise, Robin was with Emmeryn when we arrived. He looked as surprised to see me.

"Chrom, Lissa, and Maribelle were just panicking because you weren't in the infirmary," Robin scold, giving me a stern look. I gave him an exasperated one in response. "You nearly died."

"But I'm not dead or dying now, and there are others who are," I replied dryly. I moved my arm, wincing as it creaked, popped, and twinged. "Just some minor pain. It's nothing I can't handle."

"But-"

"I'll get checked again once things calm down, but right now, that bed is needed for someone with their guts spilling out." The assassins had cut through everyone mercilessly. When I'd left, a healer was trying to save a child's eye, the son of one of the servants. He'd been stabbed for being 'in the way' of their path to the barracks, and Lissa. "Gods, this is a mess. The city is in an uproar."

"Yes, I sent Frederick and Phila to help calm them," Emmeryn murmured. She smiled tiredly at us, and I knew she'd been in the infirmary too. I could tell by the blood staining her clothes, and the little patches on her hands she hadn't quite managed to rinse off. "But we are far off topic." She turned her smile towards Panne, who watched us all warily. "Brave taguel, I wished to thank you."

"You know our true name?" Panne replied. She looked… tiredly surprised. I was more startled that there was a taguel even alive, but it certain explained her different garb. I wondered if the 'pale streak' through her braids were actually her ears. "Huh. I didn't expect that."

"Taguel?" Robin repeated. He tilted his head curiously, his eyes lighting up at the thought of learning something. "What's a taguel?"

"I am a taguel. We are… were… shapeshifters. Your kind called us 'beast' or 'coney' in the midst of their hunt." She snarled. "I only helped because my warren owed a debt. Do not think us friends, you and I!"

Robin frowned. "I don't understand."

"Yes, there is precious little that your kind understands." Panne snarled again. "So very little."

"While I'm certain your words are truth, I beg you to not judge my friends by my words." Robin, however, kept perfectly calm. "I suffer from amnesia, and thus, I am relearning the world. I've not yet learned anything about the taguel, and I apologize for that." Robin looked to me. "So, sister? Do you know what she's talking about?"

"There's really not much to understand in this circumstance," I replied, crossing my arms. My muscles protested the movement, and I had a feeling I'd be in a lot more pain later. But for now, I was fine. "Basically, two generations ago, roughly, humans decided to have themselves a taguel hunt. Something about their eyes, blood, hearts, or whatever having special magical properties. But really, it was because they were 'different' and 'terrifying'. So, they were massacred." I ignored Emmeryn's gasp of horror, except for a brief exasperation of how sheltered Ylisseans could be. One history book I'd read hinted her grandfather had encouraged the behavior, quietly. "From what I was told, the 'hunts' were justified by the taguel being 'sub-human', little better than beasts. People are much quicker to kill those they think are lesser or, at least, 'not them'." I shrugged. "Unless you were wondering about the debt she was talking about, Robin. My guess is it has something to do with the First Exalt."

"Yes, that is correct," Panne confirmed. She gave me a curious look. "You know more than most man-spawn."

"I travel. You hear a lot of stories of taguel in Plegia, since they sympathize with someone trying to slaughter you just for existing." I smiled slightly at her scoff. "You may think it mad, and I do not blame you. But there are many 'sole survivors' of villages in Plegia."

"Perhaps." She nodded reluctantly. "It is the nature of man-spawn to destroy all they touch, even each other. A base desire to bring ruin to everything." She snarled once more, and I tried not to flinch. I, after all, was 'fated' to bring an end to everything, alongside Robin. "You're all the same."

"There is… truth in your words, perhaps," Emmeryn murmured. She looked ready to cry. "The words may come too late, and mean too little, but I am deeply sorry. What little I know of the taguel shows mankind had much to learn from them. I am sorry that we stole your family from you, and made the world a lesser place."

"You claim to be blameless, and yet apologize?" Panne scoffed. "Your words are like the wind, but more useless."

"I know." Emmeryn gave her a sad smile. "But I am afraid they are all I have." She and Panne simply stared at each other for a long moment. No words. Only silence.

But then, Panne actually started laughing. "You seem sincere, man-spawn. You look at my pain and see it for what it is. You look at me, and see what I am." She shook her head, as if she thought she was going mad. "I will never trust mankind. But perhaps I can learn to trust you."

"I am honored you would give me the chance." Emmeryn's smile widened. "I shall do my best to earn it."

She and Panne talked more. Robin wandered off, to deal with something, but I watched them interact, smiling slightly. This… just proved my belief. If the people of Plegia could just hear her, they'd see that sincerity too. It was a shame that it would likely never happen.

I'd been right. At some point after everything had calmed, my leg and arm began reminding me that they'd been broken, and did not appreciate being overworked so soon after being mended. I'd tried to just go to sleep anyway, but it had been too much, so I'd gotten up and tried to hobble over to the infirmary. Then I'd promptly gotten lost. Again.

"...What are you doing up?" Then, of course, I'd run straight into a very tired looking Frederick. "It's late," he scolded. "You should be asleep. Everyone's on edge given the attack."

"I was just trying to get pain medication so that I could sleep," I replied with a sigh. I winced as my leg protested again. It really didn't like me right now. "And I got lost. This castle is too big." The Shepherds were staying the castle again tonight, just in case there was a second attack.

"...The infirmary is still full, but I keep some in my room. It isn't far from here."

"Of course you keep pain things in your room. You clear pebbles from the path."

"Pebbles can be quite dangerous." He smiled slightly, and moved to help me hobble. "I thought you were healed?"

"Yeah, but I should've rested a bit more as my bones and muscles adapted to being whole again." I sighed heavily. "Which I didn't. There was work, and this won't kill me. There were others in the infirmary who couldn't say the same."

"It's sad how true that is." He fell quiet then, still helping me limp, but thankfully, he was right. His room really wasn't far from where we'd been.

He'd led me inside and had me sit at a small stable in the room while he hunted for the medicine. I noticed with a little smile that he'd kept the door open, like a 'proper' gentleman, before I looked around the room. The first thing I noticed was that it was warmer than Emmeryn's. There were little pictures dotting the walls and nightstand, some flowers. Books scattered across the floor. A couple of half-written letters on a desk. Half-cleaned armor in the corner, next to some weapons. A patchwork quilt on the bed. Little things, but things that showed that this was 'home' to him. Unlike Emmeryn's. No matter how much she claimed she liked simpler things, I couldn't help but think the castle wasn't 'home' to her anymore, and that it hadn't been since she became Exalt.

"Here." Frederick set down a little vial, and some water next to it. "It tastes horrible, but it's very effective," he explained. I gave him a dubious look and he smiled slightly. "Is that out of disbelief of my words, or that I'm saying them in the first place?"

"The latter. I've had cheap ale in the slums," I retorted. I shuddered as I remembered. "You want horrible taste? Go with that." I took the vial and tossed it back like a shot. I made a face at how bitter it was, and downed the water after it. "Though, I have to admit. That was damn close."

"Then I think I'll avoid your recommendation." Frederick laughed a bit, leaning against the wall next to me. "Sit and wait for a bit. Sometimes, it requires a second dose, and sometimes, it'll make you very dizzy."

"Like most pain medications. I've had a few, when employers were nice." I sighed, and leaned back in the chair. "How's the city?"

"Finally calm. Phila and I just got back. Exalt Emmeryn will likely address the people in the morning."

"And then we figure out what the hell we do from there." I looked up at him. "I mentioned this to Chrom, but there's a traitor. Maybe more than one. That man got in through the secret passage, and it would be a lot of luck if he happened to just find it."

"Yes, and it will be difficult to research who." He sighed heavily. "While only very few were ever told, we have to take into account of some of those being… less than discreet, made lax by the peace."

"Or wanting money. Or protection."

"Yes. You and Robin need to not go anywhere alone. You two are strangers, and very close to the royals."

"I suppose." I paused and then gave him a confused look. "Wait, hold on. Isn't this where you're supposed to question and be wary?"

"Oh, I am wary. I'm Frederick the Wary, after all." He smiled a little at the joke, and I snickered, unable to help it. "And you, Kestrel, keep a lot of secrets. It's hard to not be suspicious that those secrets might be involved. However, I can also admit that the involvement is unintended." He shrugged. "It would be a stupid time to turn coat, and you strike me as someone who prefers pragmatism and expediency. If you wanted Exalt Emmeryn or Prince Chrom dead, you could've done so without all this fuss. You could've even done so and come up with a lie, as you're often alone with them."

"...I'm trying to figure out if you're complimenting me or not, and coming up blank."

"Well, I'm not sure if it's a compliment or not either." His smile grew and I outright laughed. "So, I'm afraid I cannot answer that."

"Damn." I made a face before thinking of something. "Oh, so, I have a question."

"About?"

"An… emotional thing." I shrugged. "You seem to be the most emotionally stable person I know."

"Naga help you."

"Pick another god. They might be more inclined to help. But for now, you." I sulked. "Do you mind?"

"I don't mind, but…" He paused, thinking. "You have no idea about emotions?"

"Well, I know anger and hatred." My voice was very dry. "But no, otherwise, I'm emotionally stupid. Underdeveloped."

"You kept quiet?" He frowned, looking incredibly confused. "You didn't ask?"

"I had no one to ask!" I glowered at him. "It's spread by now who that man was, right? The leader of the assassins here? That was my abusive father. That's who we've… I've... been running from. Look at the damage to here, and know that he sent even more sadistic people to come after us." I started shaking as I remembered the first time. The first time we were attacked after Mom had died. Before, we'd just thought Mom had been fighting 'bad people', like a hero. We didn't realize until much, much later that she'd simply been protecting us. "They'd slaughtered our friends, our neighbors, just to find us. They were killed just for not being us. They hadn't even been protecting us! They hadn't been asked They were just in the way!" And it was the same at the next place. And the next. And the next. Finally, Robin and I had withdrawn from everyone. The closest we got was acquaintance, comrade. Employer and employee. Never stayed with anyone long, never stayed anywhere long. "So, no, I didn't ask. It's just been Robin and me until we got here with all you crazy people!" My voice echoed back, and I realized I was actually shouting. "I…"

"Clearly had a nerve struck." Frederick, however, was still perfectly calm. "Very well. I shall do what I can to help you put a name to what is bothering you."

"Thank you." I squirmed a bit, embarrassed, and then looked down, speaking more to the floor. "Okay, so it deals with Chrom." I jerked my head up when I heard a coughing sound, and I realized he was coughing. "What?"

"Nothing, nothing." He waved my concern away. "I just already have an idea. But continue. I could be wrong."

"I… okay?" I gave him a confused look before shrugging. "So, Chrom. I often feel a bit… odd? Well, not often. Just sometimes. When we spar, it's all fine, and when we're in serious things, it's fine. But when it's not? And it's just the two of us? I feel weird? Like… awkward, yet not?" I struggled to try and explain it. "Like I'm out of place, yet I only feel that way because I'm so in place, and I don't know that feeling? Then, well, we got talking about marriages because… well, because. It made sense, I promise. But he started talking about it, and I felt awkward, and I burst into tears, and it's all just bizarre and I can't word it properly and-"

"You're in love." He said the words so simply that I could only stare in shock at him. "You're in love with Prince Chrom." He gave me a sympathetic look. "I've been suspecting it. A few have, actually. Virion and I had a conversation about it, alongside why he bears a dagger with the crest of an Ylissean noble house."

"I… that…" My eyes widened. I was… in love with him? I was in love with Chrom? That seemed so… so ridiculous. It was only in the stories that people fell in love quickly. I'd known Chrom for a handful of weeks, even if all the events did make it seem longer. "That…" But, at the same time, there was some part of me, a growing part, that thought he was right. If only because he had given me an answer so quickly. "I…"

"Love is a very painful, and sorrowful thing." His voice was soft, and I knew he was thinking about… what he had with Emmeryn. That distant, yet intimate, thing that could never become anything else because of their roles, and duties. "Especially when you love someone so bound by duty."

"That's…" My voice cracked, and I realized I was crying. "Oh, gods, I'm an idiot." I covered my face, doing my best to just keep quiet. "I'm a complete idiot."

"Love makes fools of everyone." Frederick came over and sat next to me, resting a reassuring hand on my back. "You simply have to… make do."

"I wish I'd never met him." Yet, at the same time, I was happy. Because of all the kindness. Because of being able to see Robin so happy. Because of the… the friends… "Things would be easier."

"Well, while I doubt you'd hurt, I'm not so certain going through life completely numb is 'easier'." He rubbed my back soothingly. "Go ahead and cry. Love hurts."

"It really freaking does." My voice cracked again, and I thought of the odd looks I'd gotten from Sumia. She'd… she'd figured it out. Long before I had. That was why she'd sometimes act strangely. I was her 'rival', sort of. "Oh, gods, Sumia… I need to apologize..."

"I think…" Frederick trailed off, and he hummed a little. "Well, perhaps…" He stood suddenly, and walked away. I brought my knees to my chest and continued to cry, not knowing how else to begin processing this.

Small, almost stumbling footsteps caught my ear, and I glanced up. Then I jerked back, because Sumia was right there, smiling sadly at me. Frederick was in the doorway, and I put the pieces together from there; he'd gone to get her.

"...I understand," she whispered. She sat next to me, and hugged me tightly. "I understand too. It really sucks, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," I mumbled. I returned her hug when I noticed she was crying too. "We're both have really bad taste in men."

"Seems so." She laughed a bit, and I did too, and we both continued hugging each other and crying. Frederick let us cry ourselves out while he made tea for us both, and brought us damp clothes to wash our faces with.

The next few days were going to be incredibly awkward. But, I had a name for why, and I… I wasn't alone in it. There was some small comfort in that.

Notes on Sumia:

Class - Pegasus Knight, Reclass - Knight, Cleric

The daughter of a Viscount who is good with animals. Also does 'flower fortunes' for reasons unknown, but they seem to reassure her.

She had previously trained as a cleric, but reading the descriptions of a war-time infirmary made her realize she did not have the right mentality for it. She then received some training as a knight, but she took lessons with Phila to ride a pegasus.

Clumsy on the ground, but incredibly skilled and graceful in the air, perhaps because she has full confidence in her pegasus, and none in herself. Always, though, she is a sweet girl who simply wishes to be useful to the Shepherds. And Chrom. She has a rather obvious crush on him.

Author's notes: Technically, there is one more scene at the end of this chapter, but I moved it instead to the interlude. There is no mention of when Panne's warren was wiped out, and even her support conversations have a few contradictions on when it even could be. I'm choosing for it to be during the time of Emm and Chrom's grandfather, and that mentality helped influence their father's mentality for dealing with the Plegians. Virion's dagger showed up in a previous chapter and comes from his C support with Frederick.

Grima's Truth is Validar's personal tome in game. However, Henry's 'double duel' thing proves that anyone capable of wielding dark magic (and having the skill, of course) can use the tome. It's animation strongly resembles the animation of the Book of Naga in Awakening.

Emmeryn is playable through spotpass, and through that, you see that she starts off with Mage class skills despite having no access to the mage class. I'm choosing that she was originally a mage, but gave up the 'class' to become a cleric, focused more on healing. As a result, she retains the skills, but no longer has access to the 'class'.

Next Chapter - Interlude, Traitor